Putting a face to a cause can help make a movement trendy and popular. But sometimes putting a face to a cause limits the lasting impact.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2013 to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Choosing OPCW as the winner does not put a single face to the cause of prohibiting chemical weapons. It is a general group. It takes many people to make change in the world, just as it took a team of people to win the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

This organization won the prize over other nominated candidates linked to chemical weapons control, including Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of Russia.

There is a problem with using solely Putin’s face as the poster child for solving chemical weapons issues.

After the chemical weapons attack on Syria, Putin released an op-ed piece entitled “A Plea for Caution From Russia” through The New York Times. Putin wrote against the United States’ proposed strike on Syria. The Obama administration approved Putin’s suggested diplomatic approach.

The International Academy of Spiritual Unity and Cooperation Among the Peoples of the World then proposed nominating the Russian president for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize on Sept. 16.

Putin’s efforts are admirable. The U.S. has a long history of conflict in the Middle East, stifling another strike hinted at the need to end prolonged involvement of the U.S. in Middle Eastern politics.

However, Putin is not a conflict-free nominee.

Recently, Putin has been scrutinized for his ban on U.S. adoptions of Russian children, leaving many children in mid-adoption in limbo. He also banned gay propaganda, particularly in reference to Russian youth, sparking outcry and protests, as the 2014 Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi, Russia.

After the Syrian chemical attack, Putin was applauded for intervening in potentially continued violence in the Middle East. At the same time, many people around the world supporting marriage equality and adoption opportunities reacted against his new laws.

Putin is a trendy public figure because the way he is perceived changes from positive to negative depending on the issue. He was praised worldwide for his intervention in Syria, but also condemned by many for his discriminatory social laws.

Trendy is when the way a public figure is perceived is based on the scrutiny of the public. If his actions are favorable to the majority, he is accepted. If a large group deems his actions as immoral, he is renounced. The way the public views a prominent person can change overnight.

He is neither widely accepted nor globally disliked. The way he is perceived changes depending on the issue.

Putin is trendy and unstable, forever changing, but the need to prohibit chemical weapons use has not changed.

A poster child is a single face that represents a common goal. An organization is a group that acts together to achieve a common goal. A group takes action, while a poster child only familiarizes the public with an issue.

Acting together, a group is strong in its efforts. The efforts of an individual are more likely to falter.

The United Nations is comprised of countries across the globe acting together. It goes beyond Russia and the United States. There is a larger consensus on how to act on the Syrian conflict, allowing for a more well-formed decision.

OPCW is leading the world in prohibiting the dangers of chemical weapons. The Norwegian Nobel Committee understood that and awarded the organization the Nobel Peace Prize. This award celebrates the good that can come from working together.

Rebecca is a junior in Media. She can be reached at [email protected].